Clarence Darrow MetroPark

Introduction

Clarence Darrow MetroPark is a popular recreation spot located across from the Kent State University Trumbull Campus in Champion Township. The park exhibits a surprisingly diverse landscape ranging from grassy fields and rolling hills to wooded flatland and deep stream banks, leaving several little environments to explore and study. Visitors to the park will find forested walking trails, stream side park benches, the Young’s Run 18-hole disc golf course, open lawns, and picnic areas with grills. The park is particularly popular with disc golfers, bicyclists seeking to utilize the Western Reserve Greenway located about one mile northeast of the park, and birdwatchers. The eastern portion of the park, which features a 32-space parking lot, hosts the starting disc golf tee for the Young’s Run Disc Golf Course. Located nearby are two picnic tables, a park kiosk, and a Young’s Run Disc Golf Course message board.

History

Clarence Darrow MetroPark is among the oldest parks in MetroParks’ inventory of leased and owned properties. Although MetroParks did not effectively acquire Clarence Darrow until 1984, the park district worked with a variety of other county agencies to maintain and develop the site into what it has become.

Present Conditions

Clarence Darrow remains one of MetroParks’ most visited parks, attracting nature watchers and disc golfers throughout the year. Disc golf, of course, is the park’s most popular feature, as evident by the weekly disc golf events and games held nearly every weekend throughout the year. The park is dotted with park benches as well as picnic areas with tables and cooking grills. With the help of Youth Build, a kiosk was installed at the park in early 2008. The message board near the western end of the main parking area will offer disc golfers and other members of the public a place to post notices for special events. A 75 person Pavilion was built on site for use by the disc golfers and visitors alike. Events that have taken place there have ranged from Birthday Parties to Disc Golf Events. If you would like to reserve this pavilion please follow this link and fill out the form and send to the address on the form.